Pistol dispenser for fluent material



y 6 c. L.- LAWHORN 3,443,725

PISTOL DISPENSER FOR FLUENT MATERIAL Filed Oct. 24. 1967 INVENTOR. fig, 3 Ufl/zeus's l. 15 nu/ole HTTOEA/EY United States Patent O 3,443,725 PISTOL DISPENSER FOR FLUENT MATERIAL Charles L. Lawhorn, 3331 Panorama Drive, Nashville, Tenn. 37218 Filed Oct. 24, 1967, Ser. No. 677,523 Int. Cl. B6711 B65d 35/54 U.S. Cl. 222-79 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a pistol dispenser, and more particularly to a pistol dispenser for fluent materials having a gate controlled from the handle of the dispenser for opening and closing the muzzle.

Pistol or gun dispensers are generally known in the art, such as the conventional caulking gun. These dispensers are adapted to receive a cartridge containing a fluent or paste-like material, and pressure is applied to the cartridge by a ratchet-operated plunger to discharge the contents of the cartridge from the dispenser. The ratchet mechanism is actuated by the trigger for incremental movement of the plunger to gradually squeeze the fluent contents from the cartridge and through a discharge aperture in the muzzle end of the pistol barrel.

Many paste materials tend to harden upon exposure to the atmosphere during periods of non-use. Consequently, unless the entire fluid contents of the cartridge are discharged within a short period of time, then any remaining fluent material which is not used may be Wasted because of the hardening of the material remaining in the muzzle end of the barrel or the discharge spout of the cartridge.

If, on the contrary, the fluent material is too fluent, once the spout of the cartridge is punctured the unused fluent material may also be wasted by dripping from the cartridge while the pistol dispenser is not being used.

Furthermore, the partially discharged fluent material remaining exposed in the muzzle end of a pistol dispenser can become soiled during periods of non-use, so that even if it is fluent enough for subsequent use, the soiled portion will make an unsightly appearance when spread upon a surface. For example, dirty caulking discharged from a caulking gun presents an unattractive sealed joint. Also, if the fluent material is of a type consumed by persons, such as toothpaste, then exposure of the unused fluent material or paste to germs or dirt, would be obviously detrimental to personal hygiene.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a pistol dispenser for fluent materials, such as toothpaste, in which the muzzle end of the barrel is provided with a remote-controlled closure or gate so that the aperture to the cartridge chamber may be closed at all times when not in use, but readily opened for discharge of the fluent material.

Another object of this invention is to provide a pistol dispenser having a muzzle gate and a reciprocable memher in the handle of the pistol for opening and closing the gate.

A further object of this invention is to provide a pistol dispenser adapted to receive a collapsible cartridge of ice fluent material, having a gate in the muzzle end of the cartridge chamber, and separate operating members for discharging the fluent material from the cartridge, and for opening and closing the gate, both operating members being adapted to be easily controlled by the single hand of the operator holding the pistol.

A further object of this invention is to provide a pistol dispenser having a flexible gate adapted to be moved within the wall of the barrel for opening and closing the muzzle end, for maximum concealment.

Another object of this invention is to provide a pistol dispenser having a cartridge chamber for receiving a collapsible cartridge of fluent material, a side opening in the wall of the cartridge chamber for easily receiving a cartridge, and a cover member secured to the barrel for opening and closing the opening.

Another object of this invention is to provide a dispenser for fluent material, such as toothpaste, in the form of a pistol which will be attractive to children.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a side elevation of the invention showing the pistol housing in longitudinal section, with the cover in open position, and the gate in closed position;

FIG. 2 is a muzzle-end elevation of the invention; and

FIG. 3 is a bottom sectional view taken along the line 33 of FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now the the drawings in more detail, the pistol dispenser 10 made in accordance with this invention has a pistol-shaped housing including a cylindrical barrel 11 and a handle 12. The front portion of the barrel 11 comprises a cartridge chamber 14 adapted to receive a cylindrical, collapsible cartridge 15 containing a fluent material 16, such as toothpaste. The spout end 17 of the cartridge has a covered opening, not shown, which may be punctured to align with the discharge aperture 18 in the muzzle end 19 of the barrel 11.

The collapsibility of the particular rear wall 20 adapted to be thrust forward by a plunger head or ram 21 on the front end of a plunger rod 22. The rear end of the rod 22 is provided with a plunger handle 23. One side of the plunger rod 22 is provided with a series of longitudinally spaced ratchet teeth 24. Mounted in the bottom of the barrel 11 adjacent the handle 12 is a trigger 25 pi-votally connected by pivot pin 26 to the barrel 11. Integrally formed with the trigger 25 is a pawl 27 projecting upwardly to engage the ratchet teeth 24 when the teeth face down. A holding detent or pawl 29 may also be mounted in the barrel 11 for engaging the ratchet teeth 24 to prevent rearward movement of the plunger rod 22. The holding pawl 29 is biased upwardly by the spring 30-.

The elements thus far described are substantially known in prior types of pistol dispensers, and particularly in caulking guns. Thus, for each squeeze of the trigger 25, the trigger pawl 27 engages the ratchet teeth 24 and advances the plunger rod 22 and ram 21 forward an increment of length to press forward the rear wall 20 and squeeze fluent material 16 through the spout end 17 and outwardly through the discharge aperture 18. The holding detent 29 holds the plunger rod 22 in its forward position while the trigger pawl 27 ratchets rearwardly to engage the next tooth 24. After the contents of the cartridge 15 have been completely discharged, the plunger handle 23 is rotated approximately to dis-engage the ratchet teeth 24 from the trigger pawl 27 and the holding pawl 29. The plunger handle 23 is then manually drawn rearwardly through the barrel 11, and the spent cartridge 15 is removed and replaced by a full one.

The improvement contemplated by this invention includes a gate 33, preferably made from a flexible, flat, ribbon-like material, such as a steel ribbon. The ribbonlike gate 33 is slidably received in a gateway or guideway 34 formed in the muzzle end 19 of the barrel. The gateway 34 has a transverse portion 35 which intercepts and extends transversely across the discharge aperture 18. The gateway 34 then arches from its transverse portion 35 downwardly and rearwardly to form a longitudinal portion 36 in the bottom of the barrel wall 11. The entire gateway 34 has a substantially flat rectangular cross-section for slidably receiving the flexible gate 33 so that the gate 33 can reciprocably move lengthwise of itself through the gateway 34 and across the muzzle aperture 18. The rearward extension of the longitudinal portion 36 of the gateway 34 is best disclosed in hidden lines in FIG. 3. This longitudinal portion 36 is adapted to receive the rear or proximal portion of the gate 33 when it is in open position, that is, withdrawn from the discharge aperture 18. The proximal end of the gate 33 is connected to an elongated link member, such as rod 38, which is also adapted to reciprocate within a complementary passageway in the bottom portion of the thick wall of the barrel 11.

The rear end of the link rod 38 is pivotally connected to an elongated slot 39 in the top portion of a gate operating member or lever 40. The lower end of the lever 40 is secured by a pivot pin 41 to the bottom portion of the pistol handle 12. The operating lever 40 is biased forwardly by leaf-spring '42 mounted in the handle 12, so that, in normal inoperative position, the rod 38 is biased forward, and the flexible gate 33 is biased forward and upward to close the discharge aperture 18.

It will also be noted in FIG. 1 that the upper front edge of the operating lever 40 comprises an abutment 44 engaging the rear of the trigger 25. Thus, when the trigger 25 is pulled rearwardly, it will also pivot the operating lever 40 rearwardly, so that the gate 33 will automatically open as the material is being discharged from the cartridge 15. It will be understood, of course, that the operating lever 40 may be operated first and independently of the trigger 25 so that the gate 33 may be open whether material is discharged from the cartridge or not. On the other hand, the trigger 25 cannot be operated independently of the operating lever 40, unless of course, the operating lever 40 is first moved rearwardly.

The large elongated opening 46 is formed in one side wall of the barrel 11 to communicate with the cartridge chamber 14. The size of the opening 46 is sufficient that a cartridge 15 may be easily inserted through the side wall of the barrel to be received in the cartridge chamber 14. An elongated arcuate cover 47 large enough to close the opening 46 is pivotally connected by hinge elements 48 to the top of the barrel 11 along its center line. In this manner, when the cover 47 is closed, the hinge elements 48 may function as a sight or sights for aiming the barrel 11. The cover 47 may also be provided with a clasp 49 for engaging a rib or detent 50 in order to secure the cover 47 in closed position.

As best disclosed in FIGS. 1 and 2, the rod 38 is mounted to reciprocate longitudinally along the center line of the dispenser 10, but is provided with an offset portion 52 around the trigger 25, which is also mounted along the center line of the dispenser 10.

In operating the pistol dispenser 10, the plunger handle 23 is rotated until the ratchet teeth 24 face upward, and then the plunger handle 23 is pulled rearwardly to withdraw the ram 21 to a loading position. The cover 47 is lifted upward to the position disclosed in FIG. 1 and a cartridge 15 is introduced into its loaded position in the cartridge chamber 14, with the spout end 17 open and aligned with the discharge aperture 18. The gate 33 is, of course, closed in its normal inoperative position. The cover 47 is then closed, the plunger handle 23 thrust forwardly until the ram 21 engages the rear wall of the cartridge 15. The plunger handle 23 is then rotated through 180 until the ratchet teeth 24 engage the trigger pawl 27 and the holding detent 29. The pistol dispenser 10 is now loaded and ready for use.

When it is desired to discharge the fluid contents 16 of the cartridge 15, such as the spreading of toothpaste upon a toothbrush, the operator holds handle 12 in one hand and aims the barrel 11 at his toothbrush held in his other hand. The trigger 25 is then pulled to engage the abutment 44 and urge rearwardly the gate operating lever 40. As the lever 40 pivots rearwardly about the pivot pin 41, the link rod 38 also moves rearwardly to draw the flexible gate member 33 downward and rearward through the gateway 34, until the remote portion of the gate 33 has moved downward below the discharge opening 18, and the major portion of the flexible gate 33 lies in the longitudinal portion 36 of the gateway 34.

Also, as the trigger 25 is pulled rearward, trigger pawl 27 is thrust forward against a tooth 24 to force the plunger rod 22 and ram 21 forward against the cartridge wall 20. A small portion of fluent material 16 is thus urged outwardly from the spout end 17 through the discharge opening 18. The pivotal swing of the trigger 25 and the trigger pawl 27, as well as the spacing of the ratchet teeth 24, determine the measured amount of fluent material 16 discharged through the aperture 18. Additional measured amounts of the fluent material may be discharged for each successive squeeze of the trigger 25.

It will be understood that three fingers of the operators hand may initially pivot the operating lever 40 to open the gate 33, prior to the pulling of the trigger 25 with the index finger to discharge the fluent material through the aperture 18.

After all of the fluent material 16 from the cartridge 15 has been discharged, the plunger handle 23 is rotated and withdrawn to an unloading position, previously described, the cover 47 is swung open, the spent cartridge discharged, and a new full cartridge 15 inserted into the discharge chamber 14. The cover 47 is then again closed and latched and the dispenser is ready for a repeat operation.

By having a flat, flexible, ribbon-like gate member 33, most of the elements of the gate and its operating mechanism are completely concealed within the wall of the pistol housing, and specifically the barrel, as disclosed in the drawings, and particularly FIG. 1. Moreover, the thin, flexible, ribbon-like gate 33 effectively cuts through the fluent material between the spout 17 and the aperture 18, makes a clean closing movement, and occupies a minimum of space between the cartridge and the muzzle end 19.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made in the invention Without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, and therefore the invention is not limited by that which is shown in the drawings and described in the specification, but only as indicated in the appended claims.

What is claimedis:

1. A pistol dispenser for fluent material comprising:

(a) a pistol housing including an elongated barrel having a muzzle end and a handle end, and a handle fixed to said handle end,

(b) a cartridge chamber within said barrel and adjacent said muzzle end, for receiving a collapsible cartridge of fluent material,

(c) a discharge aperture in said muzzle end communicating with said chamber,

(d) a gate comprising an elongated, flexible, flat, ribbo ri1 member having a remote end and a proximal en (e) an elongated gateway comprising a transverse portion in said muzzle end extending transversely of said barrel across said aperture, a longitudinal portion extending longitudinally of said barrel, and a longitudinally curved portion connecting said transverse and longitudinal portions,

(f) said gateway receiving said gate for reciprocable movement to open and close said aperture, said transverse portion receiving said remote end and said longitudinal portion receiving said proximal end,

(g) a gate operating member mounted in said handle for reciprocable movement,

(h) an elongated link member extending along said barrel connecting said remote end of said gate and said operating member for conjunctive reciprocable movement, and

(i) means in said barrel for compressing said cartridge to discharge fluent material through said aperture when said gate is open.

2. The invention according to claim 1 in which said gate operating member comprises a lever having an upper end and a lower end, means pivotally connecting said lower end to said handle, means pivotally connecting said upper end to said link member, and means in said handle biasing said lever toward said muzzle end to normally urge said gate to close said aperture.

3. The invention according to claim 2 in which said means for compressing said cartridge comprises a plunger and a trigger pivotally mounted in said housing for actuating said plunger, said trigger being mounted adjacent the upper end of said lever and between said lever and said muzzle end, so that movement of said trigger to actuate said plunger simultaneously engages and moves said lever to open said gate.

4. The invention according to claim 1 further comprising an elongated side opening in said barrel communicating with said cartridge chamber, and large enough to receive a cartridge therethrough, a cover for closing said opening, and a hinge member along one edge of said cover and secured to the top center line of said barrel to form a sight for said barrel.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,907,839 5/1933 Lefever 222179 3,347,288 10/1967 Rutherford 222391 X 3,380,631 4/1968 Perrinjaquet 22296 STANLEY H. TOLLBERG, Primary Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 222'96 

